The flicker of the on-air sign illuminates the room as members of the Talon prepare the songs of the day.

The Talon Radio serves as Prosper High School’s personal music station, managed and run fully by students. The tunes that students hear during the passing periods gets chosen by the students at the Talon. Almost every day members of the Talon go through a process to specially decide what makes it through the speakers – and what doesn’t. Each member gets a say in what songs make the cut. It isn’t a complicated process, but the station’s students agree it’s still important.

According to audio-video teacher Michael Hatch, three questions guide the decisions:

“Do you know this song?” Hatch said. “Do you like this song? And, are you tired of this song?”

If the song passes all three of these questions with every student on the Talon, then it gets played during one of the daily passing periods.

“Even if you are brand new to digital audio, the Talon is still an amazing place where you can meet new and amazing people,” sophomore Cruz Bostock said, “This year has been so much better for the Talon.”

The Talon has grown this year.

“More and more people keep wanting to participate,” Bostock said. “It has been really awesome to have the extra help.”

According to Hatch, the Talon provides students with a home away from home.

“The Talon is student-led,” Hatch said. “So, it’s really great to see these kids doing all of these amazing things. I’m just the guy who walks in.”

Hatch said he has had lots of experience in digital audio and in many other aspects of digital media. Hatch also manages ENN (Eagle Nation Network). If you have any interest in the Talon or digital media Hatch and the members of the Talon would be happy to have some more people on the team.

“Thirty years,” Hatch said. “I’ve been working on radio for almost 30 years”

Hatch has been working in the radio industry since high school. He has worked in various different places and positions.

From working as an assistant to a DJ on the radio, to working with major companies to create ads for different stations.

Last year the entire Talon team had only five students wanting to participate, this year however they are up to 11 different students providing content for the Talon. But, the team said that’s not enough.

“More people,” Bostock said. “More people would tremendously help the Talon.”

The Talon provides opportunities to many students to receive awards and recognition for their work on the radio station or on podcasts and any other project that gets produced through the talon.

“One of my favorite parts of the Talon is getting awarded for our projects,” Bostock said. “There was nothing like seeing something that we poured our hearts into, (to) win multiple awards.”

Members of the Talon have won awards from podcasts, interviews, and others.

“Spooky Week” stands as the Talon’s way of spreading the Halloween spirit by airing spooky stories written by members of the Talon. Spooky week goes from Oct. 25-29 and one or two episodes are aired during eagle time.

“‘Spooky Week’ has been one of my favorite parts of working with the Talon,” sophomore Audrey Grays said. “It’s a fun change from what we usually do for the Talon.”

Although not many members of the Talon have as much experience as Grays and Bostock, every member contributes to the station.

“They do everything from the music to the podcasts,” Hatch said. “They all do something special, and it wouldn’t work without every single one of them.”